Cavaliers Lead Celtics on NBA East Odds

After winning just 33 games during the 2013/14 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers averaged better than 53 regular-season wins with three consecutive Eastern Conference championships and one Larry O’Brien Trophy over the past three campaigns.

However, the Cavaliers overhauled their roster this past summer, breaking up the Big Three of LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving by shipping Irving to the Boston Celtics. Cleveland acquired Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder in the Irving trade, while also inking Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Jeff Green, and Jose Calderon to franchise-friendly contracts.

The average age of the Boston Celtics’ training camp roster is 24.6. Irving is 25, but fellow newcomer Gordon Hayward is 27 – an elder statesman on a green team. Even post players Marcus Morris and Al Horford are relatively new in Boston, both joining the Celtics in the past 15 months.

So when you take a closer look, this squad is fundamentally different from the Celtics that averaged 47 wins over the past three seasons. Boston’s odds to usurp the Cavs in the East are set at +240.

Wizards, Bucks, Sixers Follow on East Odds

The Washington Wizards improved their win total by eight in 2016/17 to finish 49-33 – the fourth-best record in the East. Built around the backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards also pushed the Celtics to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Still, an odds gap between second and third favorite remains as Washington checks in at +1200.

The Milwaukee Bucks (+1600), led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, improved by nine wins last season to finish 42-40. The Bucks will also have Khris Middleton around for an entire season. Middleton averaged 18 points per game in 2015/16, but missed six months last season recovering from a hamstring injury.

And despite winning only 28 games last season, the Philadelphia 76ers expect 2016 first overall pick Ben Simmons and 2014 third overall pick Joel Embiid to boost their reputation in the Eastern Conference; they sit at +2000 on the conference futures.

The 6-foot-10 point guard Simmons missed all of last season rehabbing a broken foot, while Embiid has been hobbled by various knee injuries.